Social benefit-cost analysis of mandatory deposits on beverage containers
This paper presents a social-efficiency analysis of mandatory deposits on beverage containers. Five kinds of resource effects are identified, evaluated, and added up: (1) litter (both pickup and ''eyesore'' costs); (2) solid-waste collection; (3) container costs; (4) production and distribution costs; and (5) consumer convenience. It is shown that the desirability, on efficiency grounds alone, of mandatory deposits is not indisputable; it depends critically on one's evaluation of (1) the average value of the time it takes consumers to return empty containers and (2) the average value of the ''eyesore'' benefit of a dramatically reduced (i.e., by around three-fourths) volume of beverage contaner litter. (38 refs.)
- Research Organization:
- Univ. of Michigan, Ann Arbor
- OSTI ID:
- 6446186
- Journal Information:
- J. Environ. Econ. Manage.; (United States), Journal Name: J. Environ. Econ. Manage.; (United States) Vol. 5:4; ISSN JEEMD
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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Related Subjects
290200* -- Energy Planning & Policy-- Economics & Sociology
290300 -- Energy Planning & Policy-- Environment
Health
& Safety
32 ENERGY CONSERVATION, CONSUMPTION, AND UTILIZATION
320601 -- Energy Conservation
Consumption
& Utilization-- Municipalities & Community Systems-- Conservation Services-- (1980-)
BEVERAGES
CONTAINERS
COST BENEFIT ANALYSIS
ECONOMICS
EFFICIENCY
EVALUATION
FOOD
LAND POLLUTION
MANAGEMENT
MATERIALS RECOVERY
MUNICIPAL WASTES
POLLUTION
PROCESSING
RECOVERY
RECYCLING
RESOURCE CONSERVATION
SOCIAL IMPACT
SOLID WASTES
WASTE MANAGEMENT
WASTE PROCESSING
WASTES